Police reveal MasterFoods extortion target

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The president of MasterFoods Australia and New Zealand, Andy Weston-Webb with Mars and Snickers bars during the recall.Photo: Lee Besford

Police have revealed that Star City casino is the third party at
the centre of the MasterFoods extortion threat, but police wished
to reassure the public there was no direct threat to patrons or
staff.

"We are now at a stage where we are keen to clarify the
direct communication between Star City and the author,"
Detective-Superintendent Peter Cotter told a news conference in
Parramatta.

"While Star City have attempted to comply with directions, some
of the demands remain unclear and need to clarified."

Police chose to make the announcement in the hope of opening a
line of communication with the extortionist.

Police refused to comment on the possibility that the
extortionist could be a disgruntled former employee of Star City,
saying it was "absolute speculation".

Star City's chief operating officer Jim L'Estrange said the
company had received communication in the past month which was
immediately passed on to police and he stressed there was no threat
to the complex, its employees or customers.

Police also revealed the letters had been received in a variety
of forms both handwritten and typed. They had been received by both
MasterFoods and Star City.

Also present at the news conference was the president of
MasterFoods Australia and New Zealand, Andy Weston-Webb.

More than 3 million of the company's top-selling chocolate bars
have been removed from shelves across NSW following claims by the
extortionist that seven bars had been poisoned.

Traces of pesticide were found in one chocolate bar sent to
MasterFoods by the extortionist.

AAP reports: Detective-Superintendent Cotter said the
two companies received several "rambling" letters in the mail this
month, some handwritten and others typed.

He said police investigations had found no link between the two
organisations and it remained unclear why they had been targeted
together.

Mr L'Estrange said the company had immediately passed on all
communications it received to police.

"Star City had been ready to come forward for some time," Mr
L'Estrange said.

"However, it is clearly a sensitive issue. We're also ensuring
that our staff are kept informed of any developments."

Mr Weston-Webb said he was "perplexed" as to why the company had
been drawn into the extortion bid.

"I would like to thank the public for their support and patience
during the past three weeks," he said.

"We will continue to work with the police where we can be of
assistance."

MasterFoods would restock NSW retail outlets with Mars and
Snickers bars once it decided it was safe to do so, he said.